Composite container



July 3, 1962 D. P. SMITH 3,042,285

COMPOSITE CONTAINER Filed April ll, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 k BY Mme/mwJuly 3, 1962 D. P. SMITH COMPOSITE CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledApril 1l, 1960 JNVENToR. Donald Paul Smith BY 52M w/ 77M DVorneL/sUnited States Patent 3,042,285 CQMPOSITE CONTAINER Donald Paul Smith,4530 Woodtin Drive, Dallas, Tex. Filed Apr. 11, 1960, Ser. No. 21,532 5Claims. (Cl. 229-51) The present invention -relates generally toimprovements in the art of packaging, and relates more particularly tothe provision of an improved tubular` container embodying novel meansfor obtaining access to the packaged commodity.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an irnproved compositecommodity container of tubular formation which is adapted to effectivelyprotect the confined commodity While permitting ready access to andremoval of the contents without mutilation thereof.

In the packaging of certain commodities, a container is required whichpossesses rigidity so as to withstand Aconsiderable abuse and retain itsshape as well as that of the confined product, and which is moreoveradapted to be tightly sealed to protect the packaged product againstpossible deterioration and leakage. These containers must furthermore bereadily openable for access to the packaged commodity by the consumerwithout need for undue physical exertion, mechanical skill and mentalingenuity. Examples of some of the commodities requiring special rigidcontainers are such food products as refrigerated biscuits and otherbakery products, frozen fruits and juices, molded meat products, moldedsalads and desserts and other foods which are packed While in asemi-fluid condition and subsequently assume a denite shape within thecontainer, as well as such other products as polishes and dressings,putty, waxes and the like.

Many containers have heretofore been proposed in efforts to lfulfillthese requirements and provide a suitable packaging expedient. Amongsuch containers are various metal cans requiring use of special openersfor obtaining access, specially constructed metal cans having a built intear strip requiring a 4slotted key for removing the strip, fiber cansor tubular containers of the convolute-wound type having a glued overlapseam and an extending gripping tab adapted to be pulled to separate theseam. tubular fiber containers which are either scored or have a teartape embedded in the side wall and extending longitudinally of orcircumferentially around the side wall for severing the same along apredetermined line, spiral-wound liber containers having ya tear stringadapted to split the side wall between the spirally-wound ribbons ofpaper board, and spiral-wound fiber containers in which the outer layerof paper board is loosely glued so as to permit the spirally-wound sidewall ribbons to be manually unwound and separated.

While some of these previously proposed containers have enjoyed aconsiderable amount of commercial acceptance and success, all of thempossess certain disadvantages and objections, particularly when used inthe packaging of bakery products such as refrigerated oven readybiscuits. These biscuits are cut to the desired form and are placed intheir packaging containers after the dough has partially risen. Thecontainers are then hermetically sealed, and the rise of the dough iscompleted in the packages with the development of considerable pressure.The internal pressures developed in the sealed packages during storagerun as high as thirty pounds per square inch, and it is thereforeimperative that the joints and seams of the container be tightly `sealedto prevent outward extrusion of the product and of suicient strength towithstand the high internal pressures. In addition, special precautionsmust be taken to provide for quick and uniform opening of a substantialportion of the container in order to permit release of the internalpressure built up in the ICC package, since the dough will otherwiseextrude through the opening or any small cracks in the seam and thuscause deformation and distortion of the biscuit. Furthermore, the accessopening must be so located and must be of sufcient size as to permitremoval of the expanded biscuits without need for unnecessary handlingby the consumer and possible resultant damage to the product.

None of the presently available containers known to me meet all of therequirements above set forth. The metal cans are expensive and requirespecial opening devices of one type or another. Furthermore, in theopening of metal cans, an initial penetration, puncture or tear in thecontainer Wall must be made with the opening thereafter beinU madeprogressively larger, and the biscuit dough would therefore extrudeimmediately through the initial hole or slit and cause deformation. Inaddition, access for removal of the product is difcult, if notimpossible, without damage to the commodity through the type of`openings heretofore provided. As for the available `ber or paper boardcontainers, those which have an overlapped glue seam and are adapted tobe opened by breaking or separating the :seam are diicult to capeffectively at the ends because of the extra thickness of the tubularside wall at the seam portion. Furthermore, in this type of container,the glue seal must be Weak enough to permit it to be broken during theopening process and yet strong enough `to prevent inadvertent breakingof the seal by the internal pressures which build up in the package, andit is therefore very difficult to lprovide just the right seal. As yforthe presently available fiber containers embodying a tear tape or theequivalent, the opening likewise is progressive and begins with a smallinitial slit or tear through which the biscuit dough will extrude, andthe opening deiined in these prior containers likewise does not permitready access to the product for removal thereof without damage inhandling. The spiral wound fiber containers are likewise objectionablebecause of the progressive opening which permits extrusion of the doughwhen internal pressures are released, and convenient access to thepackaged commodity is also diicult without considerable handling anddamage.

Therefore, another important object of my present invention is toprovide an improved strong and durable ber board container whichobviates all of the objections and disadvantages attendant priorcontainers of this general type and `which meets all of the requirementshereinabove specified.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved tubularcontainer especially adapted for, but not limited to, the packaging andmerchandising of oven ready bakery products such as refrigeratedbiscuits and which embodies a novel side door opening therein forobtaining ready free and easy access to the contents without need forhandling the same while assuring simultaneous opening of the containerside wall along its entire length to equalize the release of pressurefrom within the package, thus preventing distortion of the biscuits.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improvedcommodity package of tubular formation and having novel access meanswhereby the container may be conveniently opened along its entire sidewall without need for using any separate opening devices whatsoever.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an improvedmethod of producing a novel tubular commodity container having a iibrousside wall provided with a built-in door or access opening and capped atthe ends to elfectively seal the container and confine the commodity.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description, reference beingmade to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan View of a ber board blank for the tubular side Wall ofa typical composite container embodying the invention, the blank havingthe flexible inner liner and iiexible outer label material securedthereto with parts being broken away for the sake of clarity;

FiG. 2 is an end view of the blank and its components;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the blank formed totubular sha-pe and illustrating the end caps which are applied afterfilling;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section through the formed tube;

PEG. 5 is a perspective view of the completely assembled and sealedpackage;

FIG. 6 is a similar perspective view of the assembled package with theouter convolution or overlying layer of the tubular side wall partiallysevered by the tear string;

FiG. 7 is another perspective view of the package with the outerconvolution of the container Wall entirely severed across its fulllength by the tear strip and showing the edge of the intermediate layeror access door partially pulled away in the initial door opening stage;

FiG. 8 is still another perspective view of the package with the sidewall opening or door of the container extended to fully opened conditionto reveal the contents;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary transverse section similar to FIG. 4 but takenthrough a somewhat modified container; and

FIG. l is a side view of still another modified container in which thetear strip is formed directly from the tube forming stock.

While the improvements are shown and described herein as being embodiedin a tubular container of cylindrical configuration having a foil linerand an outer foil cover or label and as being especially adapted forpackaging refrigerated oven ready biscuits, it is not intended tothereby unnecessarily limit the invention since the container may be ofpolyhedron cross-section with materials other than foil being utilizedfor the liner and cover, or with the cover omitted entirely and the tubemerely overprinted, and with the container being used for packagingother commodities.

Referring to the drawings, a blank i of fiber or paper board is firstprovided, the blank being preferably scored li-ghtly as at i6 in adirection extending lengthwise of the final tube to facilitate formingthe same to tubular shape while adding rigidity thereto. The blank i5 isthen die cut along the lines 17, '17', i7 to define the inner door oraccess opening, the fastening tabs, and the separable latch area as willhereinafter more fully appear. At the same time, the outer door oraccess opening may be defined, depending upon the type and weight of thematerials utilized and consequently the need for weakening the outerlayer of the tube, by proper scoring or perforation along the lines i8.The inner liner i9, preferably of an impermeable material such as foil,is thereafter laminated o1' adhered to the face of the blank i5 over theentire area of that portion which ultimately becomes the inside of thefinished tube, the liner being of sufficiently light Weight and flexiblematerial as to tear upon opening of the door formed in the fibrous sidewall, and in applying the liner i9, it is important that the marginaledge be extended beyond the marginal edge of the blank 1S as at 2d toform a loose fiap. The next step is to adhesively apply the tear strip2i which is adapted to facilitate opening of the latch as will alsohereinafter appear, and while this separate strip may be eliminated byproperly scoring the blank as at i7, use of a tear string or tapeinsures dependable and reliable operation. Where it is desired to use anouter printed cover or label over the tubular body, such label or cover23 is next adhesively secured or laminated to the side portion of theblank which is to ultimately become the exterior of the tube, but asindicated, this outer cover may be eliminated where it is desired todirectly overprint the blank i5. Finally, the blank i5 and itscomponents is rolled to tubular formation about an axis parallel to thescoring 4 16 which -contrary to normal practice, is also parallel to thedirection of the web from which the blank 15 is formed, it beingunderstood that successive blanks may be formed in a continuous mannerfrom a roll of web stock with the liner and outer cover being likewisesupplied from rolls. The formed tube 2d is then ready for filling andapplication of the end caps 25, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The finallyassembled package therefore includes, in general, a tubular fiber orpaper board body Z4 housing commodity such as a plurality of pre-formedbiscuits 26 and being closed at its opposite ends by metal discs or caps25 to hermetically seal the package. The tubular body 24 is formed withat least two layers or plies 27, 28 of body stock along -a defined `areaextending longitudinally the full length thereof between the end caps Z5with the outer ply 27 being covered by an overlying sheet or ply Z9 ofrupturable material located within and extending across the definedarea, the ply Z9 consisting of either a separate sheet or an extendingand overlapping portion of the same ply 27. The inner ply 2b of the tubecontains the die cut portion i7 which defines a door or access fiap 36,the cut line yll7` extending longitudinally of the tube within thedefined area to define the free outer edge 31 of the door andcircumferentially of the tube adjacent to the capped `ends thereof forat least one-half of the circumference of the tube to define the extentto which the door 3i? may be readily opened. The tear strip Zi islocated between the ply 27 and rupturable covering 29 immediatelyadjacent to the edge 3d of the door 3i? formed in the inner ply 28 andalso extends for at least the full length of the door edge 31 to permitgripping of this edge. The extending and overlapping portion o1'rupturable covering 29 is secured to the adjacent underlying surfaces ofthe tubular body Within the defined area by means of a strip of suitableadhesive 32, and the ply 28 includes an inner edge portion 33t whichextends beyond and underlies the edge 31 of the door 30. The innersurface of the tube is of course covered by the liner 19', and theextending marginal iiap 2d of the liner protrudes beyond the end of theportion 33 and lies flat against the inner surface of the tube as shownin FIGS. 4 and 9.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8 inclusive, theplies 27, 28 as -well as the rupturable overlying portion 29 and theunderlying extending portion 33 are all formed integral and of the samepaperboard blank, with the rupturable portion 29J- and a portion of theply 27 immediately adjacent to the edge 3'1 of the door 30 being securedby an adhesive strip 32 to the adjacent surface of the ply 28, and theentire tubular body is covered by the printed overwrap or label '23.However, in the modification of tFiG. 9, the rupturable ply 29 is in theform of a separate sheet `which may constitute the label per se, therupturable ply being secured to the adjacent outer surface of the ply Z8and also to the outer surface of the ply 27 adjacent to the tear tape bythe adhesive strip 32. In this embodiment the end of the ply Z7 is alsosecured to the adjacent surface of the ply 2:3 by an adhesive strip 34as shown. In either embodiment severance of the ply Z9 by the tear strip21 will not immediately effect release of the door 30, the outline ofwhich is defined by the cut line 17 formed in the inner ply 28, and thisdoor is held closed by the outer ply 27 which, at most, is merelyperforated to `define a weakened zone corresponding to the door.Severance of the ply 29 therefore only permits access to the edge 31,and to open the container and release the internal pressure as well asto `obtain `access to the commodity 26, it is therefore necessary tograsp the edge 3d of the door and pull the same `outwardly to sever theweakened zone in the outer ply 27 and thereby cause the door Butiy toopen simultaneously over its entire length and equally release theinternal pressure throughout the length of the container. In anymodification of the invention, rit is very desirable to provide theflexible extending flap 2b at the end of the inner ply 28 since this aplies fiat against the adjacent inner surface and aids in sealing againstrelease of the internal pressure until the door Sil is actually openedas aforesaid. 'The modication shown in FIG. is exactly like thepreferred form hereinabove described except for the elimination of theseparate tear strip, the strip 21 in this case being merely formedintegral with the outer side wall ply v27, and the opening operation islikewise identical.

From the foregoing detailed description, it is believed apparent thatthe present improvements provide a novel container :and commoditypackage which is exceedingly strong and tightly sealed and which maynevertheless be conveniently opened ywithout need for utilizing anyseparate opener tools or opening devices. It is obvious that the teartape merely provides access through the outer ply to the edge of thedoor formed in the inner ply. The edge of the door normally springs openfrom internal pressure, thus providing easy accessibility. During thisslight opening the contents of the container are retained by the innerwall ply 3S and the marginal flap 20. The

door is opened fully by bending the edge away from the initial opening.The initial expansion of the container contents is controlled by themarginal flap so that no localized extruding causes distortion of theproduct. The door is therefore locked both circumferentially andlinearly until the nal `opening operation which releases pressuresimultaneously throughout the length ofthe package thereby eliminatingthe possibility of extrusion of the commodity through slits or lines ofseverance which are made progressively larger. The door may be made of-any desired size, but to permit ready access to and removal of thepackaged product from the container, it is preferable to extend theslits defining the door opening at least one-half of the distance aboutthe circumference of the tubular body. The improved container may bereadily produced on automatic equipment by following the method stepshereinabove outlined, and after form-ation of the tube, the product isplaced within the tubular body which is then closed in a customarymanner by means of suitable end caps.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as beingwithin the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out anddistinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as theinvention.

I claim:

1. A commodity package comprising, a tubular multiple-ply body ofpaperboard, a commodity having a shape corresponding to said tubularbody housed therein, caps secured to opposite ends of said tubular bodyto seal said commodity therein, the inner ply of said body being scoredcircumferentially and longitudinally to dene an access door concealed bythe outer ply of said body, the longitudinal score line being exteriorlycovered and concealed -by a local rupturable portion of the outer plyoff said body, a tear strip extending across said rupturable portion ofsaid outer body ply for removing only said local rupturable portion toobtain access to said door, the inner ply of said body having an edgeportion extending beyond and interiorly covering the longitudinal doordefining score line therein, and a iiexible liner secured to the innersurface of said inner ply and having a loose portion extending beyondsaid extending edge portion of the inner ply to provide a sealing ilap.

2. A commodity package comprising, a tubular multiple-ply body ofpaper-board, a commodity having a shape corresponding to said tubularbody housed therein, caps secured to opposite ends of said tubular bodyto seal said commodity therein, the inner ply of said body being scoredcircumferentially and longitudinally to deiine an access door concealedby the outer ply of said body and the outer ply :being provided withlines of weakening corresponding to and alined with the circumferentialscore lines of said inner ply, the longitudinal score line beingexteriorly covered and concealed by a rupturable portion of the outerply of said body, a tear strip positioned between the inner and outerplies and extending across said rupturable portion of said outer bodyply for rupturing the same to obtain access to said door, the inner plyof said body having an edge portion extending beyond and interiorlycovering the longitudinal score line therein, and a liexible linersecured to the inner sur-face of said inner ply and having la looseportion extending beyond said extending edge portion of the inner ply toprovide a sealing ilap.

3. A commodity package comprising, a tubular multiple-ply body ofpaperboard, a commodity having a shape corresponding to said tubularbody housed therein, caps secured to opposite ends of said tubular bodyto seal said commodity therein, the inner ply of said body being scoredcirournferentially and longitudinally to deiine an access door concealedby the outer ply of said body, the outer ply having a local rupturableportion overlying and normally concealing said longitudinal score line,and la tear strip positioned between the inner and outer plies landextending toward opposite ends of said body longitudinally across saidlocal rupturable portion of said outer body ply `for obtaining access tosaid longitudinal score line defining the free edge of said door.

4. A commodity package comprising, a tubular mul-tiple-ply body ofpaperboard, a commodity having a shape corresponding to said tubularbody housed therein, caps secured to opposite ends of said tubular bodyto seal said commodity therein, the inner ply of said body being scoredcircumferentially and longitudinally to define an access door concealedby the outer ply of said body, the longitudinal score line beingexteriorly covered and concealed by a local rupturable portion of theouter ply of said body, a tear strip positioned between the inner andouter plies and extending across said rupturable portion of said outerbody ply for removing only said local rup- -turable portion to obtainaccess to said door, and a flexible liner secured to the inner surfaceof said inner ply and having a loose portion extending beyond theterminal edge of the inner ply to provide a sealing flap.

5. A commodity package comprising, a tubular multiple-ply body ofpaperboard, a commodity having a shape corresponding to said tubularbody housed therein, caps secured to the opposite ends of said tubularbody to seal said commodity therein, the inner ply of said body beingscored circumferentially and longitudinally to dene an access doorconcealed by the outer ply of said body, the longitudinal score linebeing exteriorly covered and concealed by `a local r-upturable portionof the outer ply of said body, the inner ply of said body having an edgeportion extending beyond and interiorly covering the longitudinal doordening score line therein, and a exible liner secured to the innerysurface of said. inner ply and having a loose portion extending beyondsaid extending edge portion of the inner ply to provide a sealing flap.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,343,222 Nelson Feb. 29, 1944 2,695,847 Fisher Nov. 30, 1954 2,775,394Lucas Dec. 25, 1956 2,793,126 Pienup May 21, 1957 2,795,366 Magill June11, 1957 2,858,057 Oct. 28, 1958

